Hair Trigger Volume

[Uly Van Hammer]

Hello!

I have a 1970's Beta Lead with 2, 12" Celestion speakers that sound great.  Only things ive had to do to it is replace the on/off switch, and a fuse.  My only real problem is the volume.  I cant seem to find a happy medium between inaudiably quiet, and brain melting loud.  I play lefty on righty guitars so I have to lock the volume there so I am not constantly changing it while strumming.

I also cant seem to get past "3" without fear of breaking my windows. Clean channel, I can get up to about 5.

Anyone else have this problem?  Or suggestions? 

[loudthud]

Where do you set the Master volume? There is a gizmo I've seen on ebay that is basically a volume control in a box. You insert it in an Effects Loop and it gives you what is effectively another Master Volume.

[doomedfuzz]

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Beta Lead - mine is the same way. I usually keep it on 1 for home playing, anything above that blows out the windows.

[xsolarusx]

I found the same thing when I had one. Definitely not a bedroom practice amp. Same deal with the silverfaced Concert Lead, when I have the distortion dimed.

Maybe it has something to do with solid-state amps? Seems to be an issue exclusive to them, as no tube amp I've used does it.

[doomedfuzz]

I can get mine to play at bedroom levels with no issue, it just goes from there to Madison Square Garden volume with the slightest turn of the knob! Literally from 1.5 to 2! They really don't get much louder from 5 on though, most people I know have the same experience.

[Isaac]

I don't know about the Concert Leads or the Betas, but I do know that my old Sunn tube amps all use linear pots for the volume controls, and have a similar result. Replacing the volume pot with an audio taper should solve the problem.